Introduction

An introduction to information sources that academic researchers, journalists, public relations and advertising professionals rely on increasingly in the digital age to conduct scholarly research, report and write news stories, and to find, analyze and present research on trends in mass communications. Students learn how to evaluate sources of information for credibility and quality, while they strengthen their basic research skills to go beyond Google and dig below the surface of today’s high-tech information world.

If you have suggestions, questions, or comments about this site, please contact Dick Grefe.

Guidelines

As a matter of courtesy, please turn off electronic devices unless they are being used for taking notes for this class. Please do not use class time to access (electronically or otherwise) materials unrelated to the course.

Final grades will be determined almost entirely by performance on assignments associated with weekly lectures.

Late papers are not accepted and will receive no credit. Completed assignments generally will be due by 5:00 PM on the Friday following Tuesday's class meeting. 5:01 is too late.

Attendance is taken into consideration in formulation of final grades.

There will be no mechanism (extra credit, make-up assignments, etc.) to raise grades.

About the University Library

The University Library supports Washington and Lee’s central mission of teaching, learning and research in the liberal arts by providing a wide range of materials in all formats for use in the classroom, in student learning, and in faculty research and preparation for teaching, and by offering a highly skilled staff to assist faculty, students, and other users in their knowledge inquiries.

The Special Collections Department includes rare books and manuscripts and the University archives, with a collection emphasis on the history of the University and Rockbridge County, Generals Lee and Washington, and the Shenandoah Valley.

The University Library’s two buildings, the James Graham Leyburn Library and the Robert Lee Telford Science Library serve as the University’s primary venue for study, research, and work with multimedia resources.

Hours & Contact

Leyburn and Telford Libraries are open 24x7 to W&L students, faculty, and staff when classes are in session. University ID cards are needed to access the buildings between 10:00pm and 6:00am.

The general public is welcome between 6:00am and 10:00pm throughout the week.